Hair waving apparatus



Oct. 12, 1937. I DW R 2,095,412

HAIR WAVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1934 IN VENTOR.

6504M: h. [awn/20.5

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 12, 1937 U ED-"S ATES PATENT OFFICE.

This invention relates to improvements in hair HAIR. WAVENG APPARATUS Application September 14, 1934, Serial No. 744,004

9. Claims.

treating, and more particularly, to a novel method and apparatus. for use in hair waving.

An objectiof. the present" invention is to providea novel "form of shield for protecting the scalp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield, of the type referred. to, comprising a hollow body formed of resilient insulating material and shaped to provide an air pocket adjacent the scalp when the shield is applied to a lock of hair.

Still another object of the inventionis to pro vide a shield, of the type referred to, comprising a hollow soft rubber body having a'wall provided with anopening: for a lock of hair and a resilient flaring skirt for engagement with the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shield, of the .type referred to, comprising a hollow soft rubber body having a wall provided with an opening for a lock of hair and having a resilient flange extending in onedirection from said wall for engagement with the head and another flange extending in theopposite direction from said lwall... for cooperation with a hair curling device.

ltis also anobject of vide a'novel method of hair curling, in accordthis invention to proance with which shields are applied in succession to a plurality of locks of hair and, as a subsequent step, curling devices are applied to said locks.

A further novel method contemplated by my invention involves the steps of arranging a plurality of scalp shields on the shaft of a hook tool, and then applying said shields in succession to looks of hair.

' Fig; 4 is a perspective view of another form of ted according to. my invenscalp shield construc tion. Fig. 5 is a-longitudinal sectional view thereof;

, Fig. 6isia transverse sectional view taken as of Fig. 4, and.

' ofuusing the scalp shield Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a tool, having a plurality of scalp shields arranged thereon, for use in carrying out my method.

In the accompanying drawing to which detailed reference will presently be made, I have shown what I now regard to be preferred forms of my improved scalp shield, but it Will be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular construction of the shields herein illustrated, but may be embodied in various other similar devices.

As Will be explained more fully hereinafter, my invention provides a shield for use between the scalp and a hair curling device for protecting the head from burns and electrical shocks. My improved shield is of simple and economical construction and by reason of its resilient character it readily adjusts itself to the contour of the head and eliminates much of the discomfort heretofore experienced by persons from the use of various other available forms. of shields. My invention also contemplates the provision of a novel method whereby the Work and the period of time required for curling a head of hair is greatly simplified and reduced. As will be seen from the following descripti0n,this novel method involves thesteps of applying scalp shields in succession to a plurality of locks of hairQand then applying curling devices to said locks.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description of the invention it should be understood that my improved scalp shield and method may be used in conjunction with various kinds of hair waving and curling apparatus, and by way of illustration I have shown in Figs. 3 and '7 of the drawing two different types of hair curling devices which are in general use and with which my improved method and apparatus may be used. In Fig. 3 of the drawing I have shown a hair curling device l0 which utilizes the principle of a spirally wound .lock of hair and with which a scalp protector II, representing one form of my improved protector, may be used. In Fig. 7 I show another hair waving device l2, which utilizes the principle of a flat-wound lock of hair, and with which a scalp protector l3, representing another form of my improved protector, may be used.

The construction of the scalp protector II, which asmentionedabove is more especially intended for use with a spiral curling device, is more fully illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. This protector comprises a hollow soft rubber cup-like body having a transverse or bottom wall l5, which is provided with asubstantially central opening It for a lock of hair [1. This opening is preferably of a size and shape to grip the lock of hair when the latter has been drawn through the opening. The soft rubber body is also provided with a resilient tubular skirt or flange I8 which forms the side wall of the cup and extends in'one direction from the wall l5, and with an annular flange or bead l 9 which extends in the other direction from the wall I5. The flaring skirt I8 is of a resilient nature by reason of the flexibility of the soft rubber of which the protector is formed, and, if desired, the

resiliency of the skirt may be further increased by tapering the Wall of the skirt to a relatively thin or sharp edge 20, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The flaring skirt N3 of the protector engages the head when the protector is applied to a lock of hair, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and by reason of the flexibility of the skirt it readily adjusts and adapts itself to the general contour of the head, so that the head forms a closure for the recess or pocket 22 of the protector. The recess of the protector thus provides a dead air space or chamber between the head and the hair curling device IE] and adjacent the scalp, which is very efiective as a heat insulating medium. It will be seen from Fig. 3 of the drawing that only the thin edge of the skirt l8 contacts the head, and hence very little heat will be conducted through the rubber from the curling device ill to the head.

As mentioned above, the scalp protector has a flange I9 extending away from the wall I 5 oppositely to the skirt it which, as will now be explained, cooperates with the hair curling device Ill to the attainment of a very useful purpose. As shown in the drawing, the hair waving device l0 may include an envelope 24 which is disposed around the lock of hair i! after the latter has been spirally wound upon the mandrel 25, and a heater 25 which is disposed around or partially around the envelope 24. The flange I9 of the shield is preferably formed of a diameter such that when the envelope 24 has been applied to the spirally wound lock of hair it will snugly telescope over the inner end of the envelope. The protector thus forms a closure for the inner end of the envelope which prevents the escape of waving fluid from the envelope at this point, or at least so deflects the fluid which might leak from the envelope, so that it will not drop onto the scalp of the head being treated.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the drawing I have further illustrated the construction of the scalp shield 13 which may be used with the flat-wind type of waving or curling apparatus shown in Fig. 7. This form of my protector is preferably of rectangular cup-like shape and likewise comprises a soft rubber body having a bottom or transverse wall 28, which is provided with a slot 29 through which the lock of hair 3| may extend. The soft rubber body is also provided with an outwardly flaring resilient skirt or flange 30 which extends from the wall 28 for engagement with the head to form an insulating air pocket 32 adjacent the scalp. The flaring skirt 30 is preferably constructed with a wall of tapering thick- "ness so that the skirt has a relatively thin or sharp edge 33 for contact with the head. The

tapered wall of the skirt tends to reduce the conduction of heat from the curling device 2 to the head and also increases the flexibility of the skirt so that the latter will readily adjust itself to the contour of the head to form the substantially closed insulating air pocket 32.

The curling device shown in Fig. '7 usually includes a mandrel 34 upon which the lock 3| is wound, and a clamp 35 which is applied to the lock of hair in a manner to permit the tightening of the hair on the mandrel. If desired, the shield. I3 may be provided with a flange or head 36 which extends from the wall 28 in a'direction opposite from the skirt 30 for cooperation with the clamp 35 or some other part of the curling device. This flange may cooperate with the clamp informing a seal to prevent the escape of waving fluid and also serves as a deflector for preventing any escaping fluid from dropping onto the scalp.

As above stated, my invention also provides a novel method for use in hair curling, and this method involves the application of scalp shields in succession to a plurality of locks of hair prior to the application of the curling devices to the locks. In carrying out this method I arrange a number of scalp protectors, for example, scalp protectors of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, on the shaft 38 of a hook tool 39. The protectors may be arranged on the shaft 38 in nested relation, as shown in Fig. 8, with the skirts of the protectors all extending in the same direction and away from the handle 40 of the tool. The number of protectors arranged on the shaft of the tool preferably should correspond with the number of locks of hair that are to be curled.

With an arrangement of protectors on the hook tool as shown in Fig. 8, the operator may proceed by applying the protectors in succession to the locks of hair which are to be curled. In doing this the operator engages the lock of hair in the book of the tool and draws the lock of hair through the opening of the protector and at the same time strips the protector from the tool onto the lock of hair. The shield may then be slid along the lock of hair to bring the flexible skirt into engagement with the head to provide the insulating air pocket adjacent the scalp as explained above.

After the shields ll areapplied to the locks of hair, a string 42 may be tied around the lock of hair just outwardly of the shield, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This string, as is now well understood in the art, provides a means for connecting the slotted inner end 43 of the mandrel 25 with the lock of hair so that the spirally Wound lock of hair may be tightened by rotating the'mandrel. This string may be applied to each lock immediately after the application of the shield to that particular lock, or all of the shields may be first applied to the locks and then the strings may be applied to the locks in succession.

After the shields and strings have been applied to the locks of hair, as explained above, the curling devices, such as the curling device IU of Fig. 3, are then applied in succession to the locks of hair, and from this point on the curling operation is carried out in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawing it will now be readily understood that I have provided a novel method and improved shield for use in hair curling. The shield being hollow and of soft rubber is resilient and therefore capable of adjusting itself to the head. Furthermore the resilient and cushion-likecharactor of the shield'eliminatesmuch of the discomfort heretofore experienced in the tightening of the locks of hair on the curling device, and at the same time allows the curling device to be brought close to the head so that the hair may be curled close to the scalp which is very desirable. By reason of its hollow construction the shield also provides an insulating air space between the curling device and the scalp which minimizes the amount of heat which is conducted to the head from the curling device. In addition to the heat insulating properties of the shield, it will be seen that the soft rubber of the shield provides efiicient insulation against electrical shocks.

In the specification and claims I have referred to the scalp shield of my invention as being constructed of rubber and I wish it to be understood that by this term I mean any available material having rubber-like characteristics. It will also be seen that the novel method of my invention facilitates the preparation of the locks of hair for the curling operation and results in 'a material reduction in the amount of time required for curling a head of hair.

While I have illustrated and described the method and apparatus of my invention in a detailed manner, it will be understood, of course,

that I do not wish to be limited to the exact steps i of procedure and precise details of construction ing a flaring resilient tubular skirt tapering in herein disclosed, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not involve a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A shield of the character described comprising a hollow soft rubber body having awall provided with an opening for a lock of hair and havthickness to a relatively thin edge extending from said wall substantially coaxially with respect to v j said opening.

2. A shield of the characterd'escribedcomprising a hollow soft rubber body having a transverse Wall provided with an opening therein adapted to receive a lock of hair and having a resilient tubular skirt extending away from said transverse .wall

' and adapted to engage the head to providean air pocket adjacent the scalp.

3. A shield of the character'described compris the scalp, said skirt forming the side wall of the pocket and being flared and tapered to a relatively thin edge whereby the skirt is adapted to conform substantially to the contour of the head. 4. A shield of the character described comprising a hollow soft rubber body having a bottom wall provided with opening of a size to receive and grip a lock of hair and a resilient outwardly flaring tubular skirt extending away from said bottom wall and adapted to engage the head whereby the recess of the body provides an air pocket adjacent the scalp."

5. In combination, a hair curling device, and a shield adapted to be disposedbetween the curling device and the head, said shield being a hollow soft rubber body having one portion thereof adapted to cooperate with the curling device and another portion thereof constituting a resilient tubular skirt adapted to engage the scalp and to provide an air pocket adjacent thereto.

6. In combination, a hair curling device, and a shield adapted to be disposed between the curling device and the head, said shield comprising a soft rubber body having a transverse wall provided with an opening through which the lock of hair may extend and also having a tubular resilient skirt extending in one direction from said wall for engagement with the head and a flange extending in the opposite direction for cooperation. with said device, said skirt being inherently resilient and adapted to normally maintain an air pocket adjacent the scalp.

7. In combination, a hair curling device including an envelope for a lock of hair, and a shield adapted to be disposed between said device and the head, said shield comprising a soft rubber body having a transverse wall provided with an opening through which the lock of hair may extend and also having a flaring tubular resilient for engagement with the head and a flange extending in the opposite direction from said wall and'adapted to telescope said envelope, said transskirt extending in one direction. from said wall verse wall providing a closure for the inner end of the-envelope and the openingof said wall being adapted to grip said lock to prevent the escape offluid.

8. A scalp shield comprising a cup-like member formed of soft rubber and having an open end for engagement with the scalp and an opening through the wall thereof for alock of hair, said member being inherently resilient whereby the cup recess provides an air chamber adjacent the scalp and the edges of said opening grip the lock of hair.

9. A scalp shield of the character described comprising a chambered soft rubber body having a tubular resilient skirt forming the side wall of the chamber and theopen end of which is adapted to engage the scalp, said body also having a transverse wall portion adapted to be spaced from the scalp by the skirt and which is provided with an opening for a lock of hair.

GEORGE N. EDWARDS. 

